Such a cool little rustic gem, mine, great people and good findings. We had a fantastic time while we were there, Darcel, Charles, Isaiah, and Morgen were very helpful and really know their stones. Thanks guys we will definitely be back

We had such a good time gem mining at the old cardinal gem mine. Isiah was so helpful in making sure we had everything we needed and then helping identify and separate our gemstones. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and highly recommend them. My wife also enjoyed talking with Darcelle (Isiah's grandmother) about cooking and old times.

You have a very good chance of finding a beautiful Cowee Valley stones or even a jewelry quality gem here if you what to look for. The friendly knowledgable staff provide you with marked bags of all your different treasures. With a bit of patience, luck and perseverance one learns what to look for. The Old Cardinal Gem Mine is a quaint little mountain place where the chickens are clucking and the sounds of mountains gospel music is always wafting through the trees along with the sound of the water flowing down the troughs. It's not the largest shiniest venue in the Franklin area, then again neither are rubies when you first find them. CT Rodgers, Charleston, S.C.

Had the best day at Old Cardinal Gem mine today!! Found lots of sapphires, rubies, amethysts, moonstones, and even a sharks tooth. This is our favorite gem mine in Franklin, they always make us feel at home and are so helpful. They never disappoint.

This is by far our favorite mine in Franklin NC! Had a great time and got a large variety of stones. Love the screens at this mine because they don’t hurt your fingers, which is a huge plus if you’ve ever done this. We will definitely be visiting Old Cardinal Gem Mine again!

We have been to Old Cardinal a few times. Each trip was a great experience, and this time was no exception. First off, Old Cardinal has the best prices in the area. We got a native bucket and an enriched bucket for a total of $40. Each bucket was huge! And, Ms. Darcel gave a little extra dirt in each bucket, which was really nice. We found a variety of gems: Rubies, emeralds, quartz, agate, dragon stone, a bunch of jasper, and more—all of nice sizes. She took pictures of our group, and helped us identify and sort our haul. Old Cardinal isn’t a grand palace, but the kindness, service, and consistent good finds more than makes up for it. Highly recommend!

My granddaughter and I had a wonderful time. We found a bunch of beautiful stuff in our bucket. My granddaughter also did a fossil bucket and found a bunch of stuff. She was very excited about all of the teeth. Darcel is the sweetest person and definitely loves what she is doing. We are already planning our trip back. On a sidenote we went to a more commercialized gem mine and found about a third of what we found at Old Cardinal Gem Mine!

My family ended up here today and we had so much fun! Ms. Darcel was welcoming and helpful. We purchased one native bucket for $20 and one fossil bucket for $20. Both were filled with all kinds of different treasures. After the kids finished sifting Ms. Darcel came over and explained to them what all kinds of gems and fossils they had found. We will definitely come again next time we are in Franklin. She accepts cash or paypal. Different price ranges on buckets depending on size, $20,50, or $100 I believe. It is off the beaten path, nothing commercialized or fancy but I highly recommend. Thanks again!

I took my 8 year old daughter to Old Cardinal. I’m so glad we picked this spot over all the others. My daughter found so many colorful gems and we had a lovely time meeting and chatting it up with the owner, Marcelle. She’s lovely and very knowledgeable. We will be back!!!